Final Reflection: EDUC-6712I-5 Supporting Information Literacy and Online Inquiry in the Classroom

Throughout this course, I found that the most important new literacy skills are not based upon reading. Rather, they are based upon higher level thinking skills. Using the QUEST model students are urged to develop essential Questioning skills, Evaluate the information, Synthesize the information so that they have a deeper understanding, and then Transform this information into a meaningful learning experience (Eagleton & Dobler, 2007). Students will need to be able to read, but it is not all focused and centered around reading. Using the various skills mentioned above, students will develop essential 21^st century literacy skills needed to be successful in their future careers.

This course was very meaningful to me as an elementary Intervention Specialist. It is important for my students (at an early age) to develop researching and questioning skills because they will continue to use them as they progress through their schooling and later on in their life. After going through many of the steps with my students, I have found that we all, myself included, need to work on developing our higher level thinking skills. During my schooling, I could see how developing these skills each year would have helped me with college and in my current career as an educator. Therefore, I will continue to teach these concepts to my students and go through these essential steps to assist them with their questioning and researching skills. Personally, I will develop my skills more thoroughly while I am completing my research and searching for new ideas to implement into my classroom.

With the lesson we created in this course, I have used many pieces of it to assist my students in understanding the similarities and differences among holiday traditions around the world. They have found it meaningful and interesting. Although I wanted to finish the project before Winter break, we will finish it within the first couple of weeks after we return. One goal I would like to set for myself is developing additional research-based projects for each of my small group reading and writing classes. My goal for this year is to develop one project for each group. This will allow the students to be introduced to the QUEST process and develop a better understanding of how research can assist us with our learning. I feel that this will assist both my literacy and technology skills as well as my students. Fortunately, I will have the opportunity to work with many of my students the following year and will continue with the development of this process. I feel that this will be important for the students to develop consistency in their learning. They will then become more comfortable with the research process and will continue to build upon their skills to assist them in the future.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

References

Eagleton, M. B., & Dobler, E. (2007). Reading the web: Strategies for internet inquiry. New York: The Guilford Press.